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Method and apparatus for detecting vehicular collisions

a technology for detecting collisions and vehicles, applied in the direction of electric signalling details, instruments, transportation and packaging, etc., can solve the problems of threatening injuries, bad experiences of collisions between vehicles for everyone involved, and expensive and time-consuming

Active Publication Date: 2006-10-10
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYST INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Collisions between vehicles are bad experiences for everyone involved.
Not only are they costly and time consuming, but serious collisions may even cause life-threatening injuries as well.
The amount of time that lapses between impact and notification of authorities to the arrival of emergency personnel can mean the difference between life and death.
For serious accidents, however, simply calling the authorities may not be possible.
Seriously injured travelers often lose either consciousness or the ability to operate a phone in such accidents.
Consequently, an unconscious or seriously injured driver or passenger risks sustaining permanent injuries or even death by not being able to use a phone.
The problem with this prior art solution is that many cars are sold without OnStar™.
Additionally, older cars, built before OnStar™, do not include this equipment (and may not even include airbags).
Further, passenger transportation, like busses and trains, generally do not include such notification equipment.

Method used

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  • Method and apparatus for detecting vehicular collisions
  • Method and apparatus for detecting vehicular collisions
  • Method and apparatus for detecting vehicular collisions

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Embodiment Construction

[0017]A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,”“an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”

[0018]This invention provides a portable electronic device, like a cellular telephone for example, that is capable of detecting collisions by sensing the acceleration of the portable device. The device includes one or more of a plurality of filters that prevent false collision detections. For example, if the portable device were dropped by a user, the device would sense a dramatic acceleration upon impact with the ground. Filters are provided to prevent this dropped situation from summoning the authorities, while allowing the device to call the authoriti...

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PUM

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Abstract

A portable electronic device, like a cellular telephone is capable of detecting collisions between vehicles and notifying the proper authorities. The device includes a microprocessor and memory, in addition to an accelerometer and global positioning systems receiver. The memory includes at least one filter for screening out false positives, which are false collision detections. In one embodiment, the device determines its velocity. It then checks to see if its velocity falls within a range associated with moving vehicles. If so, the device monitors the accelerometer. When acceleration values in excess of a predetermined threshold are detected, the device pauses and again checks its velocity. If the velocity has fallen from the range associated with moving vehicles to a range associated with a vehicle that has sustained a collision, the device notifies emergency personnel that a collision has occurred. Another filter includes an operability check of the keypad, coupled with a notification message that the authorities will be called if the keypad has not been actuated within a predetermined time. Another embodiment includes a detector capable of detecting a vehicular cradle, such that the notification only occurs when high acceleration values are detected in a vehicle.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for detecting collisions between vehicles, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for using a portable electronic device, like a cellular telephone, to detect collisions using acceleration data, and to notify a third party when such collisions occur.[0003]2. Background Art[0004]Collisions between vehicles are bad experiences for everyone involved. Not only are they costly and time consuming, but serious collisions may even cause life-threatening injuries as well. The amount of time that lapses between impact and notification of authorities to the arrival of emergency personnel can mean the difference between life and death. Immediate notification of the accident is imperative in reducing the overall response time of emergency services.[0005]For minor “fenderbenders”, immediate response time is generally not a problem. To begin, such minor accidents generally do not involve lif...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B60Q1/00G08G1/123
CPCG08G1/205
Inventor LUNDSGAARD, SOREN K.GRIVAS, NICK J.
Owner CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYST INC
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